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Rajasthan: Alternate Policy Platform

A convention of the recently formed Rajasthan Loktantric Morcha consisting of the CPI(M), CPI, Samajwadi Party, Janata Dal (Secular) and Janata Da (United) was held on July 21,2013 in Jaipur.

The Alternative Policy Resolution adopted at the convention demands land-reforms, granting of special status to the state, new mining policy to protect the interests of the tribals, sub-plan for the SC-ST, protection of minorities, prevention of atrocities on women, extending social security to peasants, agricultural labourers and artisans, improving the provision of irrigation, drinking water and electricity, protecting the pastoral communities and rights of workers, expansion of MNREGA and putting a stop to increasing privatisation of education and health.

The convention also called for strengthening the Rajsthan Loktantric Morcha, for the ouster of the Congress from power and to keep the BJP away from power.

The resolution presented by Samajwadi Party leader Pt. Ram Kishan Sharma was jointly prepared by the CPI(M), CPI, SP and the JD(S). The JD(U) gave its consent to the resolution by participating in the convention. Prior to this convention, state level activists of the four parties had already held a meeting in which the decision to build an anti-Congress, anti-BJP front of the Left, democratic and secular forces was taken.

This convention was the next step towards building a non-Congress, non-BJP front based on alternative policies. It was also decided to expand the front by including other parties and prominent intellectuals who agree with the Alternate Policy Resolution.

800 activists from various districts of the state participated in the convention, by CPI(M) Central Committee member and MLA Amra Ram, CPI's state secretary Tara Singh Siddu, SP president Pt. Ram Kishan Sharma and JD(U) President Arjun Detha.

Speaking at the convention CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat slammed the Congress government in the state led by Ashok Gehlot for not doing anything to prevent the incidents of communal violence in the state during the last five years. She said, “There have been 55, big and small, incidents of communal violence during the Congress rule. We know that the RSS and the BJP had a hand in these incidents…it is their politics…they want to divide people to promote their politics…but what was the Chief Minister doing? What was Congress doing?”

Brinda also castigated BJP state president Vasundhara Raje for staying out of the state for the last four and half years and resurfacing recently only to seek votes. “Being in the opposition, Ms.Vasundhara Raje did not raise a single issue in the assembly…now she has woken up at the time of elections and claims to bring Suraaj.” But during her Suraaj, there were not one, not two but a 100 instances of lathicharge and firing at farmers and workers of Rajsthan,” she said.